My asda magic interview dilemma !! how would you approach this circumstance !

DAREDEVIL78

Hi , i have an asda magic interview this week , i am currently employed but want to work where this asda is based as it is very close to my house and is more suitable allround.

My dilemma is that i have had to give 2 referees for the asda interview and if a job offer arises they will contact the referees but one of them is my current employer and i am worried that if they did plan to offer me a job depending on this referee then i know they wont give a satisfactory reference as they will be miffed that they didnt know i planned to leave.

Point is surely i wont be the only one going to this interview who will already be employed but it would be better if you got the job offer then had to give a written reference AFTER i left my current employer.

Second point is i am certain they wont give a glowing reference just because they will find out i planned to leave and therefore whats the point ofgoing to the asda interview knowing that even if i get a job offer it will probably be retracted based on my current employer not giving a positive reference.

stuck between a rock feeling:(:(:(

Nessi

Companies normally wouldn't approach a previous employer until you had accepted their offer and resigned from your previous company

Mind_the_Gap

I cannot see how that would help (i) a candidate whose old employer is going to be miffed to discover s/he is leaving, or (ii) a new employer who has offered the candidate a job and had it accepted, before he gets to take up the reference? Even if the offer is conditional on the reference, the old employer is going to find out sooner or later but always before he writes the reference.

It doesn't make sense.

Surely the batting order is :

1. Employer (E) tells Employer he is seeking another job - and why. No need for cloak and dagger stuff. People go for new jobs all the time.

2. Employer says yes, I will be a referee (or not - in which case E must find another referee).

3. E applies to new Employer, who considers the application, shortlists and takes up refs for those on shortlist.

4. E attends interview.

PS What's magic about it, please?

KiKi

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

PS What's magic about it, please?

They ask you to make your own wand.

KiKi

sharpy2010

References are stupid and can be made up/faked/frauded or whatever else you want to call it.

Its a seriously outdated system which causes too many problems.

t0rt0ise

Employers aren't allowed to give untrue references and they know that so I doubt they would give you a bad reference if you weren't bad!

DAREDEVIL78

hi , i understand replies but some employers are unapproachable as to letting them know you intend to leave and even if you tell them its never going to go down well with them surely . . its like you are using them until you find something better.

I just assumed from asdas point of view they would accept a written reference after i had resigned from current job but it seems they could actually speak to them direct whilst you are still with current employer but half way to being with asda.

my point is you are put in a position at that particular point of the process.

I dont think my employer would say anything bad but surely they would say to asda upon contact something like '' well yes hes a good employee but by the way we didnt realise he was leaving ''
and at that point asda might take that negative and any poss job offer might be retracted ??

Mind_the_Gap

DAREDEVIL78 wrote: »

hi , i understand replies but some employers are unapproachable as to letting them know you intend to leave and even if you tell them its never going to go down well with them surely . . its like you are using them until you find something better.

I just assumed from asdas point of view they would accept a written reference after i had resigned from current job but it seems they could actually speak to them direct whilst you are still with current employer but half way to being with asda.

my point is you are put in a position at that particular point of the process.

I dont think my employer would say anything bad but surely they would say to asda upon contact something like '' well yes hes a good employee but by the way we didnt realise he was leaving ''
and at that point asda might take that negative and any poss job offer might be retracted ??

TBH I cannot see what you are getting twined up about. An employer would surely appreciate honesty rather than subterfuge and it is very bad manners to apply for another job without first asking your current employer if he will be your referee.

If I were your employer I would be happy to see you go if I discovered (very late in the process) you had been sneaking off to interviews, then presented me with a fait accompli - 'Oh, by the way, I'm leaving, I've got another job, will you give me a reference?' How rude is that?

And I still don't understand what good a reference is if you've already been offered the job?

Torry_Quine

Nessi wrote: »

Companies normally wouldn't approach a previous employer until you had accepted their offer and resigned from your previous company

Bad advice you should never resign until you have a definite starting date and not when the job is given subject to references etc. It is not unknown for a job offer to be withdrawn at this stage.

What commonly happens is that you are offered the job references are taken up and when all is well you then and only then resign.

DAREDEVIL78

I understand and agree with everyones comments but i think my point is my goal is to get the job but in the rules of job offer from asda it states a job offer will only be made subject to 2 satisfactory references one of which has to be an employer.. . . .and if there is a threat of one of them references being negative then what is the point of going to the interview at all . . . i have made my current employer aware i am looking elsewhere and trying to keep it amicable with them but that doesnt mean they couldnt throw a spanner in the works at the point asda take up references with them . . surely asda will want a good reference not just an ok ish reference . . won't they ??

browneyedbazzi

An employer can only give a negative reference if there is something negative to say - if they give a bad reference when there hasn't been an issue with you in the workplace then you could sue them. Most employers would not risk a lawsuit for the sake of 'being a bit miffed' that an employee has applied for a new job. The right thing to do (in my opinion) is to talk to your line manager about looking for work elsewhere and explain your reasons for doing so. If you have decent reasons, approach them in a nice way and say that you're willing to help train someone to take over your role or stay until they can find someone etc then I would expect them to be understanding.

I'm currently interviewing for new jobs - before I put my current manager's name down as a reference I had a meeting with him. I explained that I was looking for a new job and why. I thanked him for the support he has offered me while I have worked for him and assured him that I would continue to work to my best until I leave so that things are not left in a mess etc. He was disappointed that I plan to leave but was understanding about the reasons and has promised a glowing reference. Seems a much better way to go about things than having interviews in secret and hoping references aren't taken up until it's too late!

The whole point of a reference is to confirm if a person is employable (ie make sure they haven't just bull sh*tted their way through the application and interview)...there'd be no point at all in having references if you waited until after employing someone to check them! Bit like shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted.